Frank Traficante sings and plays guitar in Long Island band Somerset Thrower, who just released their debut full length album titled Godspeed, on Dead Broke Rekerds. The album sounds both familiar and fresh: you hear a lot of 90s Emo influences in the guitar melodies and the vocals, hints of Grunge and 90s Indie Rock, but all of it is played with an energy and ferocity that is definitely Punk Rock and that is assuredly their own. Check them out live this month with Backtrack and Fiddle Head and give the new album a listen!
-Cédric N
Name five songs that you consider “perfect songs” and explain why or what they mean to you.
To me, in order for a song to be perfect it has to trigger some kind of emotion in me. If a song makes you cry then you know it’s working. I don’t just want to listen, I want to feel something. I tend to gravitate toward more pop-structured songs, but I appreciate the long winded, ambient or sporadic ones, as well. These are five of thousands, but in my opinion I’d have to say:
PIXIES – Hey
A legendary song about…uh? Love? Sex? It hits me directly in the heart every time even though I’m not entirely sure what it’s actually about. It’s an eerily longing and almost regretful tune and that’s good. That’s what I want. It gets stuck inside of you. “Chained”
REPLACEMENTS – Unsatisfied
What is there left to say about The Replacements and Paul Westerberg? This man understands the human condition. This song will beat you up if you’ve ever felt unfulfilled at any point in your life. A certified tearjerker. I’m just a macho man.
BIG STAR – I’m In Love With A Girl
I came here to kick some ass. A lovely tune written by the late great Alex Chilton of Big Star. It’s a love ditty. Short and simple, clocking in at a minute and fifty seconds. It’s sweet, honest and to the point. And I dig a song that doesn’t waste my time. Love is nice, too.
THE BEATLES – Here, There and Everywhere
A McCartney composition. One of Lennon’s favorite Beatles’ songs. Do kids still care about the Beatles? Great harmonies, clever lyrics and a key change. “I want her everywhere”
NEW ORDER – Age of Consent
We covered this once a few years ago for our friend Becca. It’s not a typically structured pop song, in fact, it’s kind of random at times. It’s fast, catchy and emotional. It kind of just goes and doesn’t stop. Until it does. Then you play it again.
Which music genre do you listen to the most? List your five favorite albums in that genre.
I mostly listen to Rock and Hip Hop. Well, rock is pretty broad. So is hip hop at this point. Fuck. Um… My bad, my blunder.
So the random genre’d, Top 5 favorite albums for me would probably look something like Revolver (BEATLES), Bee Thousand (GUIDED BY VOICES), Hard To Earn (GANG STARR), In On The Kill Taker (FUGAZI), Nothing Feels Good (THE PROMISE RING)? If you asked me tomorrow I might name five others. This is hard. Why would you do this to me?
Your five favorite rappers of all time? Name one song that best exemplifies what makes them great.
Are one word reviews ok? Go listen to these songs if you don’t already know!
1. GURU of Gang Starr – Brainstorm: “WOW. He’s good.”
2. BIG L – Ebonics: “Vocabulary Spills!”
3. KRS-ONE – Step Into A World (Rapture’s Delight): “Number 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5”
4. LIL B – Swag Jerry Rice: “Does Not Give A Fuck.”
5. BIGGIE – Dead Wrong: “Move Over Lucifer”
What’s the album you’ve listened to the most in your life? Do you still listen to it?
THE BEATLES – Revolver
I was really young the first time I heard it. I still listen to it every so often. It was the first time I thought about what an album should be. It’s The Beatles’ transition period and contains some of my favorite Beatles tracks like I’m Only Sleeping, Taxman and She Said, She Said. I remember learning how to play each song and worshipping everything about that album as a kid.
**Also, Dude Ranch (BLINK-182) and Idle Will Kill (OSKER) are the albums that got me into punk rock more in depth as an impressionable skater boi yute. I listened to them nonstop for years.
What are some of your favorite song lyrics? Lyrics that have been important to you or that had an impact on you?
I like simple lyrics. The theme doesn’t necessarily have to be obvious. Certain words will make you think and feel different things. I’ve read somewhere that LOU REED used to ask his fans if they knew what certain songs of his were about because he had no idea. I think it’s interesting that a song can mean something different from person to person. It doesn’t have to be just one thing. It makes it more powerful that way. Some of my favorite lyrics are from the song Motor Away written by Robert Pollard of GUIDED BY VOICES. It seems to be a story about someone who is about to leave everything behind and risk it all for the unknown. The melody soars and the music drives. The lyrics read as if the writer is advising the listener to leave, but it’s almost like they’re using reverse psychology to get them to stay. He’s telling us we’re only missing the chance of a lifetime. And at the same time, maybe the chance of a lifetime isn’t right for this person. To be truly happy they might need to venture off into an uncertain abyss or live the rest of their life in regret. You decide. Let’s get deep.
“When you motor away beyond the once red lips/When you free yourself from the chance of a lifetime/You can be anyone they told you to/You can belittle every little voice that told you so and then the time will come when you add up the numbers/And then the time will come when you motor away/Oh, why don’t you just drive away”
So good.
Do you have an absolute all time favorite band or musical artist? What makes them so special to you?
Not really. But, Yeah. I have a few. I like The Kinks, Husker Dü, My Bloody Valentine, Jets To Brazil, Elliott Smith, Guided by Voices, Seaweed, Pantera, The Replacements, Gang Starr, Prince, The Smiths, Nada Surf, Braid, Superchunk, My Bloody Valentine, U2, Leeway, Rights of Spring, Jawbreaker, Tommy Keene, Bowie, Heatmiser, Milhouse, Garden Variety, The Rolling Stones, Bad Religion, New Order, Wu-Tang Clan, Silent Majority, A Tribe Called Quest, Big Star, Hazel, Indecision, The Cure, HUM, Daniel Johnston, Led Zeppelin, Swervedriver, Radiohead, Sunny Day Real Estate, The Velvet Underground, Tobin Sprout, Mobb Deep, RAMONES, Jesus and Mary Chain, Blink-182, Jimmy Eat World, Descendents, Teenage Fanclub, Pixies, Vitreous Humor, Sugar, The Promise Ring, Superdrag, Hot Rod Circuit, Big L, Tom Petty, Queens of the Stone Age, Rival Schools, Bob Dylan, Refused, Black Sabbath, The Lemonheads, Osker, Sonic Youth, Nas, Suicide File, The Beatles, Little Richard, Nirvana, Fugazi. Come on. Can’t pick just one. They’re all special in their own ways…
(Sorry)
What were you listening to in elementary school? Then in high school? How much of that music is still a part of your playlists today? How have your musical tastes evolved since?
I was probably listening to whatever was on pop or rock radio. GREEN DAY, BLINK-182, NIRVANA, EMINEM, SMASHING PUMPKINS, etc. I once told my entire 4th grade class I liked BRITNEY SPEARS in attempt to impress a girl. Alright, maybe I actually liked Britney a little. I remember my dad taking me to Tower Records to pick up SLIPKNOT’s “s/t’ album when I was pretty young. He bought it for me despite the scary masks and parental advisory label on the cover. The cd booklet read: “Fuck it all. Fuck this world. Fuck everything that you stand for.” I haven’t strayed too far from that.
What beloved music do you share with your parents? Any specifics memories?
My dad loves Doo Wop, Classic Rock and Disco, so I was brought up on that kind of stuff. He loves SINATRA. He loves THE BEATLES. He gave me all of his Beatles singles at a young age. His side of the family would force my brothers, cousins and me to harmonize with them at family bbq’s while reminiscing over their glory days of singing under dimly lit lamp posts on Brooklyn street corners. My mom loves BON JOVI and SPRINGSTEEN. She hates Sinatra. She once said, and I quote: “80’s hair-metal bands, when songs actually meant something.” I did get to see Springsteen live once and he’s an impressive older gentleman on stage. He plays over three hours a night and is running around like a manic the entire time. Speaking of old people, my dad’s biological father was a musician and played guitar/sang in a band in the 50’s and 60’s. He was also in the mafia and not a very good dude from what I’ve heard. Oh well.
Most memorable show you’ve ever seen? What makes it stand out?
One of the best shows I’ve ever seen was the DRIVE LIKE JEHU reunion at Bell House (Brooklyn) in 2016. The energy they had was incredible. They were on point that night. The Bell House is my favorite New York venue. I’ve seen TIM HEIDECKER, TOBIN SPROUT, SEAWEED, MICHAEL IAN BLACK, SEBADOH and GUIDED BY VOICES there to name a few others, as well. All memorable shows. I saw TORCHE for the first time recently. They’re dope. REFUSED at Terminal 5 was insane. THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN at T5 was the loudest show I’ve ever been to. All memorable.
Is there any band that you’ve always wanted to see live but never had the chance to catch them? Any classic show that you wish you could have experienced?
I wish I got to see FUGAZI live. Maybe the show they played outside of the white house. They were a crucial band for me growing up. Wish I saw THE SMITHS, too. And THE KINKS. And BOWIE. THE RAMONES. A TRIBE CALLED QUEST. VELVET UNDERGROUND. BIG STAR. THIN LIZZY. BEASTIE BOYS. PANTERA. ELLIOTT SMITH. LITTLE RICHARD. I’ve see PETTY, though. That was cool. Wish I saw GARDEN VARIETY and SILENT MAJORITY in the 90’s. I regret not seeing MOBB DEEP play Sweet Chick before Prodigy passed. RIP
What music or artist has been the most influential to you as a songwriter? Do you change what you listen to when you write music?
I guess 80’s and 90’s rock groups have influenced Somerset Thrower’s sound. I tend to not listen to anything other than my own demos while I’m on a writing streak. I like to saturate my head with my own ideas in attempt to be original and not bite someone else’s. When I’m not writing I’m listening to music 24/7 so it’s all good. It’s all there.
What is the most impressive band you’ve toured with? The one that you just had to watch every night? Did you learn anything from them/by watching them?
We’re not a full time touring band by any stretch. We all have jobs that give us limited time off, but we have gotten to play with some amazing bands over the years. MIND OVER MATTER, SILENT MAJORITY, INCENDIARY, SHEER MAG, BACKTRACK, CULTURE ABUSE, CAPITAL, EARWORMS, IRON CHIC, INDECISION, NOTCHES, ADULT MAGIC, and MOUTH are all really great bands that we’ve had the privilege of playing with. Glassjaw technically opened for us once.
Is there any classic / universally acclaimed artist or that you missed out on when they first came out and discovered way later? Any artist that you didn’t like at first and learned to appreciate over time?
I was like 21 or 22 when I first started listening to GUIDED BY VOICES and HARRY NILSSON (I was born in 1989). I was late to the party but I’m really glad I made it. I didn’t really care for THE SMITHS as a younger dude, but by the time I hit 11th grade I was a big fan. Never liked OASIS until a few years ago despite all my friends telling me I should love them based on other stuff I listened to. They’re good.
Do you have an artist that you love in a genre that you don’t usually listen to? What makes them stand out?
I like SIA. She has an incredible voice and is a talented writer in my opinion. Not really in my wheelhouse, but really cool.
Do you have any controversial/unpopular music related opinions that you would like to defend?
SUGAR RAY has a plethora of hits and I’m more than a little ashamed to admit it. I like the 3rd POISON THE WELL album. I’m a fan of 90’s dance music and love me some Nu Metal. (KoRn rulez!) P!nk writes the hits, too and she spells her name in a cool fucking way. Will Smith is a legend in my world.
If you could create your dream band (with any musicians, dead or alive), who would play which instrument?
Get this…
Rex on Bass
Vinny Paul on Drums
Dimebag on Guitar
Little Richard on Vox
What albums have been on heavy rotation lately?
Been listening to:
Ovlov – Tru
Swim Team – s/t
Freddie Gibbs – Freddie
Mock Orange – Nines & Sixes
Big Jesus – Oneiric
Teenage Fanclub – Songs from Northern Britain
Superchunk – Foolish
Notches – Almost Ruined Everything
Vitreous Humor – Posthumous and s/t EP
Lil B – Every Album
Sugar – Copper Blue
Dogs On Acid – s/t
Garden Variety – Knocking The Skill Level
Tragedy – Vengeance
Failure – Magnified
What are some up and coming artists that you would recommend?
Carcosa
Rule Them All
No Idea
Earn This
Mouth
Remnants
Hangman
Adult Magic
Notches
Field Day
Petal Head
Is there a band that you’ve discovered live recently that blew you away?
We played with SAD BAXTER at Fest and they were awesome! ME IN CAPRIS is a great live band, too!
What are you listening to right now, while answering these questions?
Cats Screaming
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